Description

Details

A compact, humidity-controlled case protects your slumbering mason bee cocoons throughout the winter. Stores easily in the refrigerator, providing an ideal hibernation environment in your fridge set at 34F(1C). The moisture absorbing pad ensures a humidity balance of 60-70%. Without this moisture, mason bee cocoons have a tendency to dry out in modern low-humidity, frost-free refrigerators.

Features and Benefits:

Easy to use

Safe for your bees

Re-usable

Compact

Lightweight, see-through case with clam-shell lid

Absorbant pad—just add a tablespoon of water monthly for safe humidity level

Holds about 1,500 spring mason bee cocoons

Additional Information

Additional Information

Instructions

Open lid of HumidiBee™ and ensure that the isolating black pad is on top of the green water absorbent blanket in the bottom of the clamshell.

Place unharvested tubes OR mason bee cocoons in HumidiBee™ on top of isolating black pad.

Each month, place about 1 tablespoon of water into the container. Water can be poured directly over the cocoons as the silk cocoons are waterproof.

Close the lid and place the HumidiBee™ in your refrigerator away from the air supply vent that blows in from the freezer compartment. The temperature should be around 34-40F.

After 2-4 weeks have passed, remove the HumidiBee™ from your refrigerator to feel and determine if the green water-absorbent sheet is dry, damp or wet. The moisture content of the pad may vary due to the air circulation in your refrigerator which can speed up or slow down water evaporation. Repeat this process monthly, adjusting the amount of water added and/or the frequency when you next check.

Moldy cocoons can be a sign that there is a nearby mold source like cheese or something else. Mold is an airborne spore that will move about your refrigerator. A humid environment (your cocoons in the HumidiBee) is a perfect growing ground!. Do no panic if you discover mold on your cocoons. Simply remove the mold by giving the cocoons a short 2-3 minute soak in a mild bleach solution (1.5 teaspoon bleach:1 cup of water) followed by a gentle blotting before they are returned to their winter quarters. Do the same for the green pad and black filter. If this happens again, try placing the HumidiBee inside a lunch sack that should prevent the spores from landing on the cocoons. Don't forget to watch this monthly.

Check off each month that you have added water on the front label of the HumidiBee™.

Note: Be somewhat cautious when storing cocoons in a refrigerator containing ripening fruit that produces ethylene gas. As an example, a garage refrigerator containing delicious apples may need to be occassionally opened allowing gas to escape and fresh air to be introduced.

Your hibernating bees should be able to survive 6-7 months under refrigeration. Be careful about extending the hibernation beyond 7 months (May?) as your bees will be running out of fat reserves on which nature allows them to survive.